Israel places Africa as a strategic target for the political weight, economic resource, and open market for this continent's various civil and military products, and its special operations, due to the fragility of its conditions and the ease of leakage to its joints.
How did Israel's relations with Africa develop?
And when did you advance or retreat?
Why does Tel Aviv insist on acquiring membership in the African Union, when it has relations with 46 countries, as it always declares?
And what does it benefit her?
How did Israel's relations with the African continent begin?
Israel's early leaders did not get much occupied with Africa, because their need for recognition made them focus on Western countries.
Most of the African countries at the time were under the yoke of Western colonialism, but the holding of the "Bandung" conference in Indonesia, in 1955, which was attended by 29 African and Asian countries and formed the nucleus of the Non-Aligned Movement, was an important turning point in the Israeli orientation towards the African continent.
The conference did not invite it, and condemned its occupation of Arab lands, which constituted a great shock to its founders.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry diplomat stated, "The Bandung conference represented our biggest diplomatic setback, the most severe tragedy we experienced, as more than a billion and a half people gathered against 1.8 million in Israel. This, in and of itself, broke our spirits." Israel towards Africa.
Israel is an observer member of the African Union (Al Jazeera)
Where did Israel begin its relations with Africa?
Israel first gained its support from Africa in 1947, when Liberia voted for it, as it was the third country to recognize Israel in the world.
Ghana was also the first African country in which Israel opened an embassy in 1957. While South Africa was under apartheid rule, it was among the first countries to recognize Israel, and Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir recorded the first visit of an Israeli official to Africa in 1958.
What are the most prominent features of Israeli relations with Africa?
Since the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948, its relations with Africa have gone through several stages of progress and decline, reaching the state of normalization with a large number of countries on the continent:
The first period of rise and penetration: From 1948 to 1967, during the journey in search of "legitimacy", the same period in which Israel's relations with African countries were established, as relations expanded to a large extent in view of its modernity, as it established relations with 33 African countries.
The period of estrangement and setback: (1967-1977) after the June 1967 war, or what was known as the setback, and Israel's expansion of the Arab region as an occupation.
Then the October 1973 war, most African countries showed solidarity with the Arabs and severed their diplomatic relations with Israel, with the exception of a limited number of African countries.
Until Tel Aviv managed to breach the boycott wall through the Camp David peace agreement with Egypt (1978).
The period of return and normalization: The signing of the Camp David Accords was an occasion that Israel did not dream of, to start anew in restoring its relations with Africa, and to remove the embarrassment of the African countries in restoring communication and restoring relations with them.
In conjunction with the signing of the strategic memorandum of understanding by the United States and Israel in 1981, and Tel Aviv's acceptance of the withdrawal from the Egyptian Sinai, the African countries saw that there was no longer any enmity between them and Israel, and the African leaders took it as a pretext for disengaging from its boycott.
After the Madrid negotiations and the Oslo agreement, in the early 1990s, Israel was able to redraw the map of its relations with Africa, with American support.
In light of the differences that struck the Arab arena, starting from Camp David, passing through Madrid and Oslo, Israel invaded the African arena in length and breadth after what was termed as “peace operations with the Arab countries” and thus became proud of its relations with 46 countries in Africa, confirming its strong return, and removing all that obstructs its path.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (left) on his first visit to Israel, January 2019 (Reuters)
Why did Israel insist on applying for membership in the African Union?
Israel realizes the importance of Africa as a virgin continent, possessing enormous capabilities and great potentials of untapped resources, in addition to its urgent need for modern technology.
What are the areas targeted by Israel in Africa?
The political and diplomatic field
: Israel realized early on that it needed someone to support it in the various continental and international forums.
So it proceeded to build bridges with countries to covet their voices, and thus prevented the counter diplomacy from issuing decisions against them.
In addition, Israel considers itself a mediator between African countries and the United States, an area that it has constantly exploited against overpowered countries in particular.
The economic field
: Israel is the most exploitative of precious metals in Africa, to the extent that it has become one of the largest exporters of diamonds, gold, uranium and other resources.
Although Israel claims that it is exchanging interests with Africa, the reality is that it is exploiting it, with foreign support.
The military and intelligence field
: It is the most active area in which Israel is active in Africa, whether it is in arms sales, security training for African armies, or techniques and espionage technology, which it excels in and impresses African leaders.
Feeding conflicts in Africa
: Israel takes advantage of the chronic conflicts in many African regions, and works to feed the parties to the conflict with weapons.
The examples are many, such as supporting Nigeria in the Biafra issue, and fueling the conflict in the Congo, South Sudan, Chad and others.
The head of the Africa Department of the Israeli Foreign Ministry says: The reason why Africa has gained great importance in our foreign policy is its growing economic and political importance.
They rush to a village in South Africa to search for diamonds, one of the most important minerals that Israel targets on the continent (Al-Jazeera)
What does Israel gain from joining the African Union?
Tel Aviv has a large diplomatic presence in Africa, and by its own admission it has relations with 46 countries there.
But in fact, Israel realizes the importance of being recognized within the union, which provides it with a lot of facilities in dealing with the countries and its affiliated bodies.
This membership will facilitate access for Israel to legal and official channels, many regional organizations, and any body that may be established in the future within the African framework.
It also guarantees confronting the Palestinian movements in the African arena.
It improves its image among Africans by showing that there is no longer anyone in Africa who rejects its existence or is hostile to it, thus reducing African sympathy with the Palestinian cause, if not drying it out.
Likewise, undermining the efforts of Arab countries to win the positions of African countries in their favor.
By attending the African summits, Israel seeks to influence the decisions of the Union on issues that affect its interests.
In short, Israel's presence became normal in the first African forum.
It is no longer difficult to find the other African details that they have access to.
How did Israel gain observer membership?
Israel had a monitoring membership before the dissolution of the Organization of African Unity and the establishment of the African Union, but after the latter’s announcement, the late Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi exerted pressure on his countries, and prevented Israel’s request from being accepted, especially as he was the main financier of it at the time, and he was preparing to declare himself the “King of Kings of Africa.” .
According to several reports, Israel has submitted its request more than 10 times since 2002, and exerted pressure on its allies in Africa, such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Ghana, but the requirement was not achieved until 2021, when Moussa Faki (chairman of the African Union) made a decision to do so. Enough consultation.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid described joining the African Union as "correcting an anomaly" (Getty Images)
What is the importance of Israel's accession to the African Union?
Israel has insisted that its request be accepted for years.
Its foreign minister, Yair Lapid, stated that "this achievement corrects the anomaly that has existed for nearly two decades. It is important for strengthening foreign relations."
According to Lapid, "the observer status will enable Israel to further assist the African Union in the areas of combating the Covid-19 pandemic and terrorism."
In conclusion, we must remember the words of Levi Eshkol, the third prime minister of Israel (1963-1969): “The future of the coming generations in Israel is closely linked to its activity on the African continent.”
All of Israel's leaders have worked tirelessly to achieve this.